Drill string concept



June 11, 196s D. E. ROSS 3,387,865

DRILL STRING CONCEPT Filed Aug. 29, 1966 i (il MXJM 3,387,865 DRILL STRING CONCEPT Donald E. Ross, Huntsville, Ala., assigner to Northrop Corporation, Beverly Hills, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Aug. 29, 196, Ser. No. 575,646 Claims. (Cl. 23S- 39) ABSTRACT 0F DISCLGSURE Coupling means adapted to provide a firm-rigid connection between a pair of aligned elongated members. Adjacent ends of the members having cavities formed therein of cylindrical configurations. The ends of the coupling means, also of cylindrical configuration, are received in the cavities formed in the members. The coupling means is welded in one of the members while the other end thereof includes a plurality of circular oriented finger members. The coupling means also includes cam means adapted to expand the finger members when actuated. In turn the finger members are expanded and caused to contact the inside wall of the cavity of the member associated therewith. Thus a firm-rigid connection is provided between the pair of aligned members.

This invention relates to coupling means and more particularly to a coupling member requiring a minimum of time and effort to effect its actuation and which functions to insure a firm and rigid connection between components of a drill string or the like.

Frequently it becomes expeditious to effect firm and rigid connections between components of a drill string or the like, such a condition may be encountered during lunar explorations performed by human personnel. Under these and similar conditions the need for a coupling member functioning in the above manner becomes readily apparent. It is a further requirement that such a connection (coupling) present no protuberances or enlargements, in other words all operating components of the connection must be located within the general contour of the coupling itself and also within the contour of the drill string. The present coupling is discussed in connection with a lunar drilling operation, however, it should be understood that it has other and similar applications.

An object of the present invention is to provide coupling means usable to provide a releasable connection between components of a drill string or the like which is easily and qiuckly actuated with a minimum of time and effort.

Another object is to provide coupling means usable to connect components of a drill string or the like together which will not loosen due to vibration, impact or torsional loads.

Another object is to provide coupling means usable to connect components of a drill string or the like together which provides a continuous take-up force.

Another object is to provide coupling means usable to connect components of a drill string or the like together which does not present any protuberances or enlargements and in which all operating components thereof are located within the contour of the coupling means and of the drill string.

Another object is to provide coupling means usable to connect components of a drill string or the like together that is rendered effective by imparting rotary movement to a component of the coupling means about an axis normal to the longitudinal axis thereof.

Another object is to provide coupling means usable to States Patent 0 ice components, is particularly free of malfunctioning tendencies, is practically fail safe and is economical to manufacture.

Although the characteristic features of the present invention are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, the invention itself, also the manner in which it may be carried out, will be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which:

lFIGURES 1 and 2 are longitudinal sectional views of the coupling means disclosed herein in the expanded and contracted positions, respectively, and showing its assembled relation in a pair of aligned conduits.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the coupling means of FIGURES l and 2 taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional View of FIGURE l taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 5 is an end View of FIGURE 4 Viewed in the direction of the arrows 5 5 of the latter figure.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to FIGURES l and 2, here a coupling member 11 as disclosed herein is shown. FIGURE l shows the member 11 in its expanded or engaged position, and FIGURE 2 in its contracted or disengaged relation, positioned in a pair of aligned conduits 12` and 13.

The member 11 includes a body portion 16, substantially of circular cross-section and of the same OD. as the respective diameters of the conduits 12 and 13, and axially aligned end portions 17 and 1'8 extending oppositely from the body portion 16. The end portions 17 and 18 have a snug sliding fit with the ID. of the respective conduits l2 and 13, the portion 17 of the member 11 being Welded or otherwise fixedly secured in the conduit 13. The manner in which the portion 18 is secured in the conduit 12 will be described in detail as the specification progresses.

The end portion 18 defines a central recess I? of circular configuration which in turn defines an annular wall 21. Extending from the wall 21 is a plurality of circular oriented finger members 22 having enlarged end portions 23. The members 22 constitute integral portions of the end portion I8 and extend from the wall 21, the member 22 being spaced from each other by longitudinally extending slits 24. The finger members 22 are tempered to impart hardness thereto and a degree of elasticity, the latter quality insuring that the members 22 will assume their contracted position (FIGURE 2) at such as they are not acted upon by an external force. The outer surfaces of the enlarged end -portions of the members 22 define a plurality of V `shaped grooves 26 while their inner surfaces define substantially a truncated conical surfaces at such times as the members 22 assume their contracted positions as indicated by the numeral 2li in FIGURES l and 2. The surface-s 29 serves as camming means when acted upon by certain forces as presently explained, also at such times as the members 22 are expanded the grooves 26 coact with similarly grooves 27 provided internally of the conduit 12.

An actuating shaft 23, generally of cylindrical configuration, is received in a passageway 29 provided in the member 11. The shaft 28 has a stepped configuration including end portions 31 and 32 and intermediate p0rtions 33 and 34, as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, the portions 32, 33 and 34 are of circular configuration while the portion 31 is generally of rectangular configuration having parallel sides and rounded edge portions as best seen in FIGURE 5. The shaft 23 is supported and guided for reciprocal movement in the member 11 by a central recess having a cylindrical surface 36 formed therein, and the rounded edges of the portion 31. The shaft 28 is received in the central recess, defining the surface 36, Iand has a sliding fit therein. Reciprocal movement is imparted to the shaft 28 by a member 37 having an eccentric portion of which is received in a rectangular aperture 38 provided in the portion 31 of the shaft 28. Trunnionlike bearings are provided in the body portion of the member 11v for the member 37 on each side of the portion 31 of the shaft 2S as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2. Rotary movement is imparted to the cam member 37 by a wrench 39 of hexagonal configuration received in a hexagonal recessed socket 41 provided in an end of the member 37. It will be seen that the axis of the member 37 has a normal relation with respect to the axis of the member 11 and-therefore-a normal relation with respect to the axis of the drill string. A fiat Spot or surface 42 is provided on the cam member 37 as best seen in FIGURE 4. The surface 42 contacting the right side of the aperture 38 (FIGURE 4) at such time as the shaft 28 is urged to its full right position as shown in FIGURE l. Thus it will be seen that the shaft 28 will be urged a distance X, equal to the eccentricity of the eccentric portion of the member 37, each time the member 37 is rotated on hundred and eighty degrees (180).

The other end of the shaft ZS-that is the end furthest removed from the member 37-terminates in the aforementioned cylindrical portion 32 and carries a truncated conical member 43 having a sliding rotation thereon. The shoulder between the portions 32 and 34 of the shaft 28 precludes movement of the member 43 in one direction, movement thereof in the other direction is restrained by nut means 44 and a couple of spring washers 46, the latter having a reversed or opposing relation with respect to each other. The truncated surface of the member 43 functions as a cammng surface and continuously contacts the truncated surfaces of the enlarged ends of the finger members 22 in its assembled relaton as shown in FIGURES l and 2. As the shaft 28 is urged from the left (FIGURE 2) to the right (FIGURE 1) it will be seen, that the members 22 will be urged from their contracted to their expanded positions, VKin the latter position the grooves 26 are caused to contact and enter the grooves 27 and provide a firm connection between the member 11 and conduit 12.

Assuming now that the conduit 12 is in its assembled position on the coupling member 11. In this position it will be seen that an end of the conduit 12 abuts the shoulder 47 in iiush relation at the juncture of the portions 16 and 18 of ythe member 11. Positioned in this manner, it will be apparent that upon rotation of the member 37, the shaft will be urged to the right causing the finger members 22 to expand and the grooves I26 to contact the aforementioned grooves 27 provided in the conduit 12.

With the conduit 12 and member 11 having the relation shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the grooves 26 and 27 have a miss-matched or non-meshing relation with respect to each other, in other words the distance between the abutting surface 47 and the crests of the grooves 27 slightly exceeds corresponding distances to similar positions on the grooves 26. Accordingly as the finger members 22 are expanded sloping surfaces of the grooves 26 contact similarly sloping surfaces of the grooves 27 and provide a secondary camming action tending to force the conduit 12 and abutting surface 47 into a closer and firmer relation. This relationship is maintained due to the fact that the surface 42 of the eccentric portion of the member 37 contacts the surface 38 and also because the washers 46 maintain a continuous pressure on the member 43 at all times.

The features of the coupling member 11 described thus far enables the member 11 to (primarily) transmit longitudinal loads. Torsional loads or forces may be transmitted by mating serrations or teeth 48 provided on the abutting surface 47 of the portion 18 and the end of the conduit 12.

Thus it will be seen that a coupling member has been disclosed, adapted to transmit longitudinal and torsional loads, and effectively perform the numerous other objects of the invention. While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the method and means herein disclosed comprise several forms of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications Within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A releasable joint between a pair of members, comprising:

(a) a coupling member of cylindrical configuration including a body portion and end portions;

(b) a pair of elongated members having an aligned relation and in which the adjacent ends thereof are at least hollow providing annular wall portions;

(c) the end portions of said coupling member adapted to be received in the adjacent ends of said members;

(d) one end portion of said coupling member being fixedly secured in the hollow end of one of said pair of members;

(e) the other end of said coupling member including a plurality of circular oriented spring finger members terminating in enlarged outer ends adapted to assume contracted and expanded positions, said enlarged outer ends having serrated outer peripheral surfaces;

(f) a shaft member axially mounted in said coupling member for longitudinal movement therein, said shaft mem-ber having first camming means provided thereon adjacent said other end of said coupling member;

(g) the inner peripheral surfaces of said outer ends of said finger members defining second camming means;

(h) and eccentric means mounted in said shaft and coupling member adjacent said one end portion of said coupling member, the pivotal axes of said eccentric means being generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said coupling member, said eccentric means functioning when actuated to urge said first camming means toward the pivotal axes of said eccentric means, thereby engaging said first and second camming means so as to deflect said enlarged ends outwardly and urge said serrated outer surfaces thereof into contact with the inner wall of said other elongated member to effect a firm-rigid connection between said pair of elongated members.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7:

(a) in which said serrated outer surfaces of said finger members define a plurality of V shaped grooves adapted to contact similar grooves formed on the inside of the other of the members at such time as said finger members are urged from said contracted to said expanded positions.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2:

(a) in which the contact between said eccentric means and shaft member constitutes a rectangular aperture in said one end of said shaft member through which said eccentric means extends.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3:

(a) in which a flat surface is provided on said eccentric means and said fiat surface contacting a side of said aperture at such times as said eccentric means is rotated to a position resulting in said finger members being urged to their expanded position.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4:

(a) in which the hollow end of the other of said elongated members includes a plurality of serrations meshing with corresponding serrations provided in said coupling member at such time as the other of said elongated members and coupling member are 5 6 urged into firm contacting relation and functioning 3,074,746 1/ 1963 Shames et al 285-322 X to preclude rotary movement therebetween. 3,255,822 6/ 1966 Conrad 285-34 X References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS NITED AT PAT NTS 5 1,179,889 10/ 1964 Germany. U ST ES E 138,240 11/ 1952 Sweden. 770,519 9/1904 Dow 74-55 X 2,152,429 3/1939 Cave 285--8 2,444,414 7/1948 Anderson et a1. 2s5 33sx EDWARD C' ALLEN P'mmy Emmer' 2,508,039 5/ 1950 Neuwirth. R. G. BERKLEY, Assistant Examiner. 

